Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-08-12
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TEA.
OLYMPIA, FRIDAY EVENING, aug. II. 1857
Oh, Consistency!


The demand lately made by VIM. T.
Coleman & Co., of San Francisco, for
protection to be extended by the
Mayor of Tacoma for several hundred
almond-eyed menials that they pro-
posed sending to that city for oper-
atives in their cannery, is refreshingly
cool, coming from men who, with
other capitalists, have been operating
canneries on the Columbia river a
number of years, that have shown but
little if any respect for law. Laws
were enacted several years ago, in Ore
gon and Washington, for the protec-
ton of salmon, but they have never
had any appreciate effect upon the
fisheries owned, managed or backed
by the more wealthy dealers. A large
proportion of each years catch has
been made during the close season in
August and September, in defiance Of
law; and it is now going on so openly
that when, a few days ago, the Execu-
tives of Washington and Oregon went
to Astoria to make a special effort for
restraining the illegal traffic, the boats
were sent out as usual and no desire
seemed to be manifest ed to conceal
the lawless proceeding.
The reliance of the fishermen for
immunity seems to be based upon
the prevailing sentiment in places 30
largely benefited by present gain as to
be obligious of the irreparable damage
done to an industry of the greatest
service as factor of permanent
growth. The excessive minimum
penalty is likewise an obstruction to
the enforcement of the law, serving
as bar to conviction, and it is said
that it was purposely placed upon
the statute-books, by opponents Of the
measure, to render it prac tically mop
erative.
The necessity for placing some res
traint upon a course that will lead to
q speedy and absolute destruction of
this important resource cannot be
Over-estimated. The result is enevita-
bic, if the laws on the statute-books
are not enforced, and may occur if
still more strenuous measures are not
enacted. The decrease Of the run
each year has been so steady as to
cause but little alarm, although the
fish have steadily appreciated in value
at the canneries until they now COM
mand q price many hundreds per
cent. in excess of that which prevailed
q decade ago, when the industry
sprang into such magnificent proper
tons. With the loss of this resource
will vanish one of the best aids in
maintaining high grade for Pacific
Coast products. With it will disap-
pear an industry that has given en-
ployment to thousand of people and
enured them to mode of life which
has fitted them for service of great
benefit to the public. Its prosecution
beyond reasonable and lawful limits
few years longer, will be to deprive
us of resource which, within bounds
may yield yearly revenue of $1,000,
600 for this and succeeding genera
tions.
All these considerations do not seen
to bear feathers weight, however
with those lordlings who are engaged
in piling up their wealth at the ex
pense OF the people. The law, under
their unjust demands, must occasion
ally yield to serve their inordinate Gu
pidity, and it must stand as a wall O
adamant at other times, to promot.
the same object.
Is there any cause for special wonde
that the people should murmur at tn
construction so often placed upon lie
gal enactments favoring the capitalist
Is it surprising that they can discove
no justice in policy that has PLACED
poor men behind prison-bars for an al
legged violation of law, while wealthy
corporations are allowed to trampl'
upon the whole code with impunity?